PA, UNF trade charges over claims of new Trinco LTTE camps

[TamilNet, Friday, 12 September 2003, 14:37 GMT]The main opposition in Sri Lanka's parliament, the People's Alliance, Friday rejected the claim by the ruling United National Front government that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam has not constructed any new camp in the government controlled areas in the northeast except the Kurankupanchchan LTTE camp now in dispute, and reiterated its original claim of many new LTTE camps in Trincomalee in areas controlled by the Government of Sri Lanka.

Cabinet spokesman and Minister, Mr. G.L.Peiris, Thursday at his press briefing dismissed the claim by the PA that the Trincomalee harbour and its surroundings were insecure due to 13 newly constructed LTTE camps in the government controlled areas as baseless.

The UNF government says that Kurankupanchan LTTE camp is in GOSL controlled area. But the LTTE denies the UNF's claim and reiterates that the camp has been in existence since well before the signing of the MoU, sources said.

"The LTTE has established 12 new camps in the government controlled areas after the ceasefire agreement came into operation according to information received by us, and the Sri Lanka Army has confirmed 12 such camps in the controlled areas after the agreement," said PA media spokesman and parliamentarian, Dr.Sarath Amunugama, at a press briefing held Friday in Colombo at the office of the Leader of the Opposition, in reply to the UNF government's statement made on Thursday, media sources said.

Dr. Amunugama further said the government is now engaged in "spreading false propaganda" denying the existence of several new LTTE camps in the SLA-controlled areas "in order to retain its power."

"The country is now heading for non-retrievable disaster due to the shortsighted policy now being implemented by the UNF government in the name of achieving permanent peace," said Dr. Amunugama.

"President M.s Chandrika Kumaratunge is keenly watching every movement of the UNF government in the path of achieving peace," said the PA spokesman. "She would be writing to the Prime Minister next week giving details of the newly constructed LTTE camps in the government controlled areas in the northeast after the ceasefire agreement came into operation."